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March 24, 2026
谦(謙)qiān(qian1)
The character 谦 (qiān) means 'modest' or 'humble'. It is commonly used to describe someone who does not boast about their achievements or abilities and is respectful toward others. In interpersonal contexts, it signifies a virtue in Chinese culture that emphasizes humility and self-restraint.
Strokes12Radical讠Frequency#17457DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being 谦 is highly valued and often considered a sign of good upbringing. It reflects the Confucian ideal of modesty and respect for others, particularly in social and professional settings.
Memory Tip
Imagine a quiet person (谦) standing in a crowd, modestly lowering their head so that others can shine. The left part of the character (言) represents 'speech', while the right part (谦) hints at the idea of 'lowering' oneself to avoid speaking too highly of oneself.
Meanings of 谦
qiān(qian1)
1modest
2humble, modest
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 谦
谦Simplified
謙Traditional
12Strokes
讠Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#17457Frequency Rank
Podcast: 谦
Podcast: 谦
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AI Study Notes for 谦
Quick Contrast
谦 (qiān) vs 谦虚 (qiān xū) — use 谦 for a more general sense of modesty, while 谦虚 specifically emphasizes the quality of being modest in a self-deprecating way.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 谦 with its antonym, 骄 (jiāo), which means 'proud'. It is typically used in both formal and informal settings, especially in polite conversation. Be careful with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to misunderstanding.
HSK Study Tips
Although 谦 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be related to words like 客气 (kèqì, 'polite') and 尊重 (zūnzhòng, 'respect'). Focus on how to use 谦 in sentences expressing humility, as this aligns with the values of Chinese communication.
Common Mistakes
Students may incorrectly use 谦 to describe someone who is shy or reserved, which are different concepts. Instead, focus on its meaning of humility, as in '谦虚' (qiānxū, 'to be modest').
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 谦
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Phonosemantic compound. 讠 represents the meaning and 兼 represents the sound. Simplified form of 謙.
1The meaning half讠 carries the sense.
2The sound half兼 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayspeech
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 谦? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 谦?
Decomposition of 谦
IDS Structure⿰讠兼
谦Full Character
=
讠yan2
left
兼jian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 谦?
How to say modest in Chinese
“modest” in Chinese is谦qiān
The character 谦 (qiān) means 'modest' or 'humble'. It is commonly used to describe someone who does not boast about their achievements or abilities and is respectful toward others. In interpersonal contexts, it signifies a virtue in Chinese culture that emphasizes humility and self-restraint.
When to use 谦
Learners often confuse 谦 with its antonym, 骄 (jiāo), which means 'proud'. It is typically used in both formal and informal settings, especially in polite conversation. Be careful with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to misunderstanding.
谦 or something close to it
谦 (qiān) vs 谦虚 (qiān xū) — use 谦 for a more general sense of modesty, while 谦虚 specifically emphasizes the quality of being modest in a self-deprecating way.
What learners get wrong
Students may incorrectly use 谦 to describe someone who is shy or reserved, which are different concepts. Instead, focus on its meaning of humility, as in '谦虚' (qiānxū, 'to be modest').
Write 谦
谦
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Grammar Patterns of 谦
谦 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
